Detailing mechanism for candy-coating machines



Dec. 28,1926. 1,612,762

J. M. FLYNN DETAILING MECHANISM,FOR CANDY COATING MACHINES Filed Sept. 2 1925 Patented Dec. 28,1926.

' UNITED STATES J'OHN'M. FLYNN, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR T0 UNITED DRUG COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION.

DETAILING MECHANISM' FOR CANDY-COATING MACHINES.

Application filed September 2, 1925. Serial No. 54,142.

structions of this general character which have for some time been subject to criticism on account of disfiguring the bottom surfaces of the confections, and also on account of inefficient operation which left in many cases an unsightly confection. It is not suggested that the arrangement of a rod between the ends of ad acent feed sheets is new. Enrober machines have been equipped for some years with such a structure as broadly stated. The present invention deals with an improvement on the machines which have been in commercial use, the additional 'mechani'ca-l changes being relatively slight and confined to variations in size of the detailing rod, the speed at which it'rotates and the arrangement of the rod with respect to the conveyor sheets and the arrangement of the conveyor sheets with respect to each other While these modifications in themselves as mechanical differences from the prior art are slight, nevertheless, a most important commercial advantage has followed, and what was formerly regarded as a seriously defective organization now operates with the highest efliciency to produce evenly coated and trimmed confections.

In the drawings-- Figure l is a plan view of a portion of an enrober machine showing the improved detailing mechanism.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 22 of Figure 1, and

Figures 3 and 4 are similar views showing the confection indifferent advanced stages of feed.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the frame of the machine is indicated at 10 as consisting of two longitudinal standards spaced apart and between which [are located the feed sheets 11 and 12. These feed sheets are in the form of endless chains or bands,the band 11 being perforate in character as by being formed of longitudinal and transverse wires into a screen. The feed sheet 12 is an endless belt affair preferably of canvas supplemented by a temporary covering of paper or the like. Both The invention has for onefeed sheets are arranged over suitable rollers, guides or idlers and connected up with operating devices which cause the upper surfaces to travel in the same relative direction and at thesanie relative speed.

Between adjacent ends of the feeding mechanisms there is arranged a detailing rod 13 of very small diameter. reduced: in the size to about one-third of the diameter of the detailing rods formerly used. This rod is journaled in suitable hearings in either side of the machine and connected with operating devices which cause it to rotate ata high speed. The two feeding mechanisms arelocat-ed so close together that even the small bon-bons will receive their support entirely from the feed sheets, and as the confections pass'from' the screen-sheet 10- to the paper feed sheet 12, the proximity of the terminals of the feeding mechanisms obviates the possibility of the confection relying at any time for its support on the detailing rod. At one feed terminal for the screen 10 there is a roller 15 having bearings in bushings 16 in the frame standards 10. This provides a relative adjustment of the level of the screen 10 with the detailing rod 13 and also with the nose 17 which forms one terminal of the feed sheet 12. Rotation of the bushing to the proper fixed position gives the necessary or desirable level to the upper surface of the screen 10 so that the confections will be fed out on this sheet and supported thereby until the forward end of the confection overbalances the part remainforward end of the projection to contact with the feed sheet 12. The high speed of the rotation given to the very small detailing rod 13 produces a centrifugal action which causes this rod to travel in a circular path, the diameter of which is slightly greater than the diameter of the rod. As the rear end of the confection passes beyond the terminal 15 of the screen 10, it is slightly lowered into position where the detailing rod effectively acts to wipe off the tail of the 'soft coating which has been deposited on the confection during its passage along the screen 10. There is no tendency, however, for the rod 13 to cut into the base of the confection as it passes from one feed sheet to the other. Figures 3 and 4 of the described.

mg on the feed screen 10 and causes the Ill) The advantages of the present invention are very largely due to the use of the very. small rod having spaced bearings and rotat ing at a high speed. This accounts for the centrifugal action hereinbefore referred to which may be termed for convenience a gyratory action of the rod. \Vhile this.

diameter rod was used and operated at av much lower speed, steady and continuous contact of the rod with the tail of the "chocolate or confection was relied upon for the purpose of Working the tail into the confection. The whipping action obtained bytlris invention was not present.

Claims 1. A mechanism for removing the tails from confections comprising in combination a feedingsheet for coated confections, an extremely small rotating gyratory rod arranged close to the end of said sheet and operated at a high speed with a gyral action, andv a second feed sheet having an end arranged close to the said small rod, the

aforesaid parts being juxtaposed so as to enable the confection to get its entire sup- 30 port from the feeding means as it passes from one to the other.

2. A mechanism for removing the tails from confections, comprising in combination a pair of feeding sheets, a very small high speed rotating gyratory rod arranged between the' sheets, the ends of the sheets being located adjacent the rod so that the confeetions will pass from one sheet to the other without depending for support on the rod which by the gyral action removes the excess or tail from the confection, and adjustable means whereby the sheets and rod may be varied in relative position to secure the most effective and desirable action of the rod forditferent grades, sizes'and kinds of confections.

"3. A mechanism for removing the tails from confections comprising in combination "a feeding sheet for coated confections, an

extremely small rotating gyratory rod arranged close to the end of said sheet and operated at a speed high enough to produce a gyral action, said rod being connected to rotate so that its upper surface moves in the general direction of the feed of the sheet, but at a much higher speed, and asecond feed sheet having an end arranged close to the said rod so that confections being fed from one sheet to the other may not fall onto the rod.

JOHN M. FLYN N. 

